ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION
AT THE FOREFRONT OF WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Sixto A. Valencia 1 , PhD and Jovita L. Movillon2 , PhD
1Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and2
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering,
College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines( Telefax: 63-049-536-2315; e-mail: ver_valencia@yahoo.com)

SUMMARY
This paper highlights the importance of water , water resources in thePhilippines,

theoilspillinGuimaras

island,thesupertyphoon“Milenyo”(Millenium), and the significant role of environmental engineering
education in water resources conservation and wastewater management.

Keywords: Education, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Conservation

INTRODUCTION
Human beings, along with all other living organisms, live in a wonderful home called
planet earth. Despite the presence of perceived and real dangers (wars and bomb threats) andother current difficulties, this planet is still our marvelous world- remarkably prolific,
hospitable and unique in the universe. By and large, compared with the conditions on otherplanets, our earth’s temperatures are relatively mild and constant. Plentiful supplies of clean
air, fresh water and fertile soil may still be found in many areas. Its amazing biodiversity ofmultitudes of lives, creates complex and interrelated natural communities of flora and fauna,
both in the macroscopic and microscopic world.

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Cunningham and Cunningham (2006) aptly stated that human beings inhabit twoworlds: the natural world and the “built” world of social institutions and artifacts created withthe use of science, technology and political organizations. The process of integrating thesetwo worlds causes tremendous tensions on both sides. Through the centuries, these tensions
have resulted to problems on depletion and degradation of natural resources including waterresources. Gigantic problems, like environmental problems, need gigantic solutions presented
in clear, simple, feasible steps and approaches.
There are many possible solutions. Even in the early 18th century, the conservationists
already observed and understood the connections between deforestation, soil erosion andlocal climate change, which led to some orders and practices.
Proper education and training of all stakeholders would be the strongest and mostimportant strategic factor in the successful and active campaign against further
environmental degradation. Former University of the Philippines (U.P.) President Gonzales,a voice from the not-so-distant past, aptly put it this way: “If education has its sole object, theacquisition of knowledge, I doubt if the world could be long deceived into investing so muchof its resources in it. Education must have demonstrated in the past that it is an effective toolwith which to conquer new problems and to acquire new knowledge.“ ( Gonzales, 1926).
This paper attempts to emphasize the significant role played by environmental
engineering education in the conservation, development and management of water resources,
including the wastewater generated by the agro-industrial sector. Education, as used in thispaper, inc ludes the process of attaining and integrating information and knowledge which
can take place inside the academic institutions, and even beyond the university walls.

METHODOLOGY

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The following activities were undertaken which enabled the authors to integrate
concepts and views on how environmental engineering education fit into water resources
conservation and wastewater management:
1. Review of literatures on environmental engineering education, water resources,
wastewater management ;2. Discussion with colleagues and other experts in water resources and wastewater
management , in the Philippines and other Asian countries; and3. Some research studies on adsorption of colorants from textile wastewater, usingadsorbents produced from different kinds of biomass.
IMPORTANCE OF WATER
All of us are stakeholders in water resources conservation. Early in life, weshould be properly educated on the importance of water. We should be brought into a deeper
level of understanding, even beyond the poetic and roma ntic notion of things about water.
Water (H2 O) is said to be the most common liquid on earth and vital to all livingorganisms. It is a chemical compound formed from the elements hydrogen and oxygen. Purewater is a colourless, odourless, tasteless liquid which freezes at 0o C and boils at 100o C at
atmospheric pressure. Because of its high extensive hydrogen bonding, H2 O has high melting
point, high boiling point and high heat capacity. This high heat capacity results to very small
temperature changes which turn to be advantageous to cells where metabolic reactions arecontrolled by enzymes. H2 O can also participate in oxidation-reduction reactions as either adonor or an acceptor of electrons.

The negatively charged oxygen atom attracts thepositively charged hydrogen atoms of other water molecules, with the result that hydrogenbonds are formed between the water molecules holding them together. This makes water avery good solvent for other polar molecules and ionic substances. It dissolves both cations.

3H2 O also dissolves gases like O2 , CO 2 , and N2 . As humans continue to use water in many
ways, additional substances, including human wastes, may be dissolved in water.
As a universal solvent, H2 O is vital in plant nutrition and growth. Roots absorb andtransport nutrients dissolved in water. It also helps maintain the earth’s surface temperature(along with CO2 and certain atmospheric gases). The partial pressure of water vapor isgenerally highest near the earth’s surface, and drops off very sharply with increased elevation.
Water vapor absorbs infrared radiation (about 1 mm to 7 x 10-7 m) so strongly, so that it issignificant in maintaining the atmospheric temperature at night, when the earth’s surface isemitting radiation into space and not receiving energy from the sun. An extensive layer ofwater vapor is necessary to absorb and then radiate part of the infrared radiation back to earth.
Otherwise, the surface loses this radiation into space and results to very high rate of cooling.
In very dry desert climates, where the water vapor concentration is unusually low, it may be
extremely hot during the day, but very cold at night (Brown et al., 2004).
Human adults need about 2 liters drinking water per day. About 5000 liters is used
to produce 3.2 tons paddy rice. Other valuable data which underscore the significance ofwater, are as follows: a). water covers about 72% of the earth’s surface; b).human bodies areabout 65% water by mass; c).the world ocean is huge with a volume of 1.35 x 109 km3 ; d) ofwater on earth, 97.2 % is world ocean; 2.1 % is ice caps and glaciers; 0.6 % is fresh water( lakes, rivers and groundwater); and 0.1 % is brackish (salty) water, e.g. Great Salt Lake.

WATER: A CRITICAL RESOURCE
Current estimates on world population point to more than 6 billion human beings,
with a projected additional 85 million per year . If the present trend continues, this may
result to a population between 8 and 10 billions by 2050. The impact of the populationpressure on natural resources and ecological system is definitely mind-boggling. There was a4

widespread thesis that the wars of the 21st century will be provoked by dwindling watersupplies, though this has not been proven correct (Frank Kurschner-Pelkmann, 2006).
Cunningham and Cunningham (2006) cited the findings of the United Nations Environmental
Program, the World Bank and the World Resources Institute, as follows: a) = 1.2 billion
people lack access to safe drinking water; b) = 2.4 billion people lack adequate sanitation
facilities; c) = 5 million

deaths per year, partly caused by polluted water (2.2 million

children under age 5); d) about 40% of world population lives in areas where water demands> supplies; and e) by 2025, it is projected that about 75% could be living in water-depletedareas.
WATER RESOURCES IN THE PHILIPPINESThe Philippines has the longest coastline in the world, with its coastal area covering
60% of the country’s 73 provinces. It is an archipelago with 24 major fishing bays and gulfs.
It has rich inland waters consisting of 421 rivers, approximately 70 natural lakes, more than106, 328 hectares of freshwater swamps, and 30, 000 hectares of dams and reservoirs.
Of the 421 river systems in the Philippines, a total of 40 rivers, including all rivers inMetro Manila, 4 in Cebu and 4 in Negros Occidental, have been declared biologically deaddue to pollution. Mines are the major sources of river pollution. There are about 25 mining
firms that discharge about 100,000 tons/day of mine tailings into the rivers. These containacids, alkali, cyanide and heavy metals which gradually accumulate and become major
hazards to humans and aquatic species. Industrial firms located along the banks dump wastes
into the rivers. The Pasig river in MetroManila is a waste sink to more than 150 factories thatdischarge 11 millions gallons of industrial wastewater per year (Ordonez, 2005).
Oil spill and fishing methods like blasting, cyanide fishing and muro-ami havedestroyed 95% of coral reefs, thereby reducing the stock of fish.

5ACTUAL CASES : OIL SPILL OFF GUIMARAS ISLAND AND THE SUPERTYPHOON “Milenyo” IN BICOL REGION, METRO MANILA AND SOUTHERNLUZONOIL SPILL OFF GUIMARAS ISLAND
The main source of oil pollution in aquatic environment is the oil spill from ships,
leaks from routine operations at installations tanker terminal and oil refineries, operationaldischarges from tankers and other vessels at sea. Sometimes, wastewater with oil aredeliberately discharged into the sea. Oil spill kills all aquatic life because it is toxic. Coral
reefs are also affected by oil spill. A coral reef is a wave-resistant underwater ridge moundbuilt of fragments of coral, coral sands and solid limestone at or slightly below sea level. ThePhilippines has one of the largest reef areas in the world, about 27,000 square kilometers ofcoral reef area within a 15 to 30 meter depth. Of this area, only 5.3% could be classified inexcellent condition; 70% are deteriorating. About 55 % of the fish consumed by Filipinos
depend on coral reefs. Similarly, production from coral reefs account for about 10 to 15 % of
total marine fisheries (Ordoñez, 2005).
On August 11, 2006, single-hull tanker M/T Solar-I ( owned by the Sunshine Maritime
Development Corporation) navigated the stormy seas. The oil tanker sank 640 meters deep,
23.4 Km from the southern coast of Nueva Valencia Guimaras town. Of the tanker’s 2
million liters of cargo, the Coast Guard said that about 200,000 liters had leaked out fromM/T Solar 1. From there, it was estimated that the tanker continued to leak around 200-250
liters of oil per hour. As of September 22, 2006 at least 58 barangays in 5 towns in Guimaras
and two towns in Iloilo have been damaged. It was estimated that the oil spill had alreadyaffected 7870 families (39,004 persons) and Guimaras Island’s ecosystem- 66 km of sea, 220
Km. of coastline, 1143 hectares of a national marine reserve, and 454 hectares of mangroveas well as its people’s health (1,706 reported sick) and livelihood. With continuing oil spill,6more than 144 kinds of fish, 29 genera of coral, marine turtle habitats, 7 species of seagrass,endangered dugongs, several species of whales and dolphins, and over 1,128 hectares ofprecious mangrove forest may lost (www.wwf.org.ph; Phil. Daily Inquirer, September 25,2006).
What has been done after the oil spill? Petron Corporation (cargo owner) brought inconsultants from Japan and had its voluntary contribution in the form of the Waterborne
Industry Spill Response (WISE) tugboats, oil spill skimmers and booms, absorbent pads, andchemical dispersants. Use of dispersants has caused alarm among environmentalists.
Containment and clean- up options have been made with an estimated 1000 tons oil debris
collected from Guimaras. Siphoning of bunker fuel is being negotiated with the insurancecompany.
SUPER TYPHOON “Milenyo” (Millenium).
On September 28, 2006, Super typhoon “Milenyo” ravaged the Bicol Region, Metro
Manila and Southern Luzon. As of October 3, 2006, 190 were reported dead due to landslide,flood, giant billboards and other typhoon-related accident. Again deforestation was theculprit for the destructive landslides and floods which claimed hundred of lives and seve ral
million pesos worth of crops and properties.
Could proper education and training have prevented such oil spill and landslides? Can
they also provide short-term and long-term solutions to protect the fragile ecosystems in thePhilippines, and elsewhere? The answers are in the affirmative.
COMPONENTS OF THE HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Education is a process and a system. It is part of a learning process involving theinteractions and communications between the teacher and the students. Modern trends,
however, showed the changing role of teachers, from purveyors of knowledge to facilitators.
The teacher endeavors to share and enhance precious knowledge with the students, using7references and tools to facilitate learning, hopefully in a conducive environment withseveral elements. These elements do not only refer to the physical location of the classroom
or the school, but also include various socio-cultural, eco-political and even religious factors
which influence the system. The kind of curriculum consistent with the learning objectives,
together with the form and substance may be legislated by the government. Even the teacher,as an individual in a complex human society, is affected by his/her personal circumstancesand beliefs. These, in turn, will determine the method, motivation, innovations and ultimate
success of the teacher (Figure 1).
Environmental engineering education. Cognizant of the importance of humandimension in environmental science , proper education and training should be provided to theconcerned groups including government administrators, legislators, industrialists, engineers,
academicians, teachers, businessmen, law enforcers non-governmental organizations(NGO’s), people’s organization (PO’s), “civil society (CS)” and the final consumers. Formalschools, mixed media (radio, TV, newspaper and other printed materials), music and someart forms (movies, theater, paintings, dance), initiatives of NGO’s, PO’s, and the “civilsociety” , are effective channels for instruction, and promotion of environmental awareness.
Socio-political and religious institutions also play significant roles in conservation andmanagement of natural resources (Figure 2).
For its part, the Chemical Engineering Department-CEAT-UP Los Ba ños has
been conducting researches on wastewater management, mostly on end-of-pipe treatment(Table 1). Results of these studies may be accessed by fellow researchers and interested
parties since these are published in journals, proceedings, bulletins and transactions. Thereare cases when affected industries and/or companies directly consult with the department
faculty members re: actual waste management problems. Hence, some of these results aredirectly conveyed to concerned companies.

8CONCLUSION

Water is an important and critical resource which should be conserved. Its various
uses have been discussed. The oil spill in Guimaras island and the ravaging Super Typhoon“Milenyo” in the Philippines were included to demo nstrate the damages caused bymalpractices leading to destruction. This paper also highlighted the significance of proper
education and training in environmental engineering for all stakeholders.
REFERENCES
1. BROWN, T. L., H. E. LEMAY, Jr., B. E. BURSTEN, J. R. BURDGE, 2004.
Chemistry The Central Science. Pearson Education South Asia
PTE, Ltd., Philippines, 1039 pp.
2. CARIÑO, L.V, 2005. Mobilizing for Active Citizenship. E.C. –tec Commercial,Phil., 120 pp.
3. CUNNINGHAM, W.P. and M.A. CUNNINGHAM, 2006. Principles ofEnvironmental Science. McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 428pp.
4. GONZALES, B.M.,1926. Note : The student and his future. Phil. Agriculturistand Forester. 15, 49-50.
5. KURSCHNER-PELKMANN, F., 2006. Untold strengths. D+C, 33(3), 110-113.
6. ORDOÑEZ, J. A. II., 2005. Environmental Biology. National Bookstore, Phil. 226pp.
7. SNEDDEN, R.(ed.), 2000. Science. Hodder and Stoughton Educational, London,216pp.
8. THE PHILIPPINE STAR Vol. XXI No. 28 ( Aug. 25, 2006 ).
9. THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER, August –Sept.15, 22, 30 and Oct. 3, 2006.
10. www.wwf.org.ph9

NTMENIROENVngrni ivesae
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STUDENTS

Knowledge/Skills

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Figure 1. Components of the Holistic Educational System•Socio-Cultural•Eco-Political•Religious Institutions•Government Administrators•Legislators•Law Enforcers•Industrialists•Engineers•Teachers•Businessmen•Academicians•Non Government Organizations•Peoples Organizations•Consumers

ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERINGEDUCATION

WATER RESOURCESCONSERVATION AND
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT•Formal Schools•Mixed Media•Music and•Other Art Forms

Figure 2. Environmental Engineering Education of all Stakeholders.

10Table 1. Some UPLB-CEAT Chemical Engineering Department Researches on Wastewater
Treatment.
Process/Operation
Material treatedAgents/Reagents__________________________________________________________________________________________
Decolorization and COD reduction
Distillery slop
Fenton’s reagent
by adsorption
Crude Glycerol
Mixed Culture Activatorfrom methanolysis
Activated Carbon
Reduction of phosphates and surfactants
Synthetic laundry wastewater
Alum, lime, chitosan
by coagulation and adsorption
Removal of ChromiumVI by adsorption
Simulated wastewater
Bentonite, hydrazine
and hydrazine process
Decolorization and BOD reduction
Polymer lens , phenolic wastewaterOzone
by photolytic ozonationslaughter house wastewater
Coagulation, photocatalytic degradation
Textile wastewater
Vermiculite, sunflower
adsorption
stalk, coconut husk,
and other biomass
Coagulation-flocculation
Oil and grease fromAluminum sulfate andgasoline station wastewater
anionic polyacrylamide
Heavy metals in wastewaterElectrolysis
and electroflocculation
Reuse/recycle as diluent

Different kinds of wastewater

Modelling and simulation

Toxic inorganic andorganic chemicals in
Laguna de Bay (lake)

Distillery slop

Rhizobium exopolysaccharide (EPS)
Phosphono-methylated
polyethleneimine (PPEI)Electric current; flocculant
fish sauce/molasses
fermentation___________________________________________________________________________

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